A fourth-grade student from Oroville, California, has been named the winner of the Butte County “I Voted” sticker contest. On November 26, 2025, nine-year-old Judd Hallen received the exciting news during a visit to the Butte County Hall of Records, where he initially thought he was simply accompanying his mother to pick up passport applications. Instead, his mother had arranged a surprise announcement that he had won the competition.
Upon arriving at the Hall of Records, Butte County Clerk-Recorder Keaton Denlay greeted Judd and revealed the reason for their visit. “I didn’t know why he said my name,” Judd recalled. “When he told me that I won the competition, I was really excited.” His victory was officially announced earlier by the Clerk-Recorder’s office, which reviewed a total of 164 artwork submissions from students ranging from kindergarten to 12th grade.
Artistic Achievement and Community Impact
Judd Hallen, a student at CORE Butte Charter School, emerged as the youngest finalist among six selected entries, with the others being students in seventh, eighth, and 12th grades. His winning artwork features a bear biting down on the words “I voted,” adorned with the red, white, and blue colors that symbolize the United States. Judd chose to depict a bear in honor of the California state flag.
His design will be featured on stickers distributed during the 2026-27 election cycle, with tens of thousands of residents in Butte County expected to wear his creation after casting their ballots. “I think that’ll be awesome,” Judd expressed, clearly thrilled about the recognition and the impact his artwork will have on the community.
The “I Voted” sticker contest not only aims to encourage civic engagement among young people but also showcases the artistic talents of students across the county. Judd’s achievement serves as an inspiration for his peers, highlighting the importance of participation in local and national elections.
As the excitement continues to build around the upcoming election cycle, Judd’s sticker will play a role in promoting a sense of community and pride among voters in Butte County.
